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seemed in good order. Above No. 3 Level, which was at that time 900ft. in length, four men were getting out the block of stone which fell about October last, since which it has been filled in and allowed to solidify. The reef is so large than an average yield of 5-jdwt. pays very well. No weekly report was kept; but it seems, when Mr. Gordon last visited this mine, the works were not sufficiently developed for the introduction of the Act. A miner was killed here during 1884. 21. Deep-level Tunnel, Reefton. —Still at work. Not visited. 22. Deep-level Tunnel, Boatman's. —21st August.—Well timbered and ventilated. 23. Specimen Hill Quartz-mine. —Not at work. 24. Red Queen Quartz-mine- —27th August, 1885.—This is the only mine now worked in the Mokihinui district. At the above date the stopes were above the lowest (No. 2) level, which was driven 380ft. The reef measures lft. to 2ft., and the country is very hard. The walls are well-defined, but there is a loose casing on the hanging-wall which—especially as the reef is very flat, 19ft. 6in. in 100ft. —if not carefully watched is liable to fall. One man was working under a very dangerous piece; but it appeared that he was somewhat inexperienced, and on this account had for his mate the boss of the shift, who was outside attending to some duties which would but for my visit have been performed by the manager. Thus the danger would probably under ordinary circumstances have been avoided. Ladders not very good. As the Act had not previously been introduced here it was not observed. Twenty-two men were employed in the stopes. New Mines. 25. Manila Quartz-mine.— Ist September, 1885. —This is one of the leader-claims at Zalatown, and was worked by Hart and party on tribute. Six men had been employed for four mouths, during which they had stoped for a few feet above the old No. 1 Level. The reef was about a foot in thickness, but poor. Air pretty good. Level in need of repairs. 26.. Tyrconnett Quartz-mine. —Ist September, 1885.—This is also a leader-claim, situated close to the Maruia, where a thin but very rich vein of stone is worked. Dynamite was taken in in half-packages. No proper return for air. No plan at mine. 27. Crcesus Quartz-mine. —Ist September, 1885.—This mine was worked by a tribute-party, of whom Mr. Antonio Accolino is manager. Three weeks before my visit the manager's brother was severely injured by a fall of stone. The claim did not appear to be well worked : timber deficient, and ladders in very bad order. Of course, as the Act had not been previously introduced no attention was paid to it. Six men were employed below and two at the battery. 28. Venus Extended Quartz-mine. —18th August, 1885.—This claim, which is situated in Murray Creek, was visited by me on the above date, at which time it was intended to connect the two levels by an uprise which would meet a winze already sunk 74ft. The difficulty, of course, was with regard to ventilation; and the manager had placed a small furnace near the entrance, and connected it by pipes with the workings. The Act had not previously been introduced. 29. Fiery Cross Extended Tribute. —2lst August, 1885. —Between Nos. 3 and 4 levels of the Hopeful Claim a party of seven men were working. The boss of the party was Mr. H. Currie, formerly manager of the Fiery Cross Claim. The ground was well-timbered, but, being soft, explosives were seldom made use of. No attention was paid to the formalities of the Act. I have, &c, George J. Binns, The Under-Secretary of Mines, Wellington. Inspector of Mines.

No. 4. Mr. Inspector Binns, F.G.S., to the Under-Secretary of Mines. Sir, — Dunedin, loth January, 1886. I have the honour to make the following report on my recent inspection of the quartzmines in the Westport Mining District: — 1. Golden Fleece Extended Quartz-mine was not working at the time of my visit to the district. 2. Golden Treasure Quartz-mine. —This claim, which has recommenced operations, was inspected on the 27th November, at which date onlv four men were employed below-ground.. Stoping was being carried on in a thin and broken reef between Nos. 5 and 6 Levels. Winding is carried on from a shaft 300ft. deep, by means of a double-cylinder steam-engine. Men are not, however, raised or lowered by this means, and it is therefore unnecessary to have either an indicator on the engine, a cover on the cage, or signals in the shaft. Still, the shaft-mouth should be properly fenced, which was not always, for the manager was in the habit of clewing up the gates during winding operations, being apparently of the opinion that he thereby complied with the requirements of the Act. Only fragments of Rules were posted up, and dynamite was taken down in packages of slb. No plan was kept at the mine, nor was any weekly report made. The